PHOENIX (LAWFUEL) – A Paradise Valley man pleaded guilty today to Willful Failure to File his 2003 Federal Income Tax Return. Mario Alexander Pino, 38, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August, 2008. As part of his guilty plea, Pino admitted to U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence O. Anderson that a reasonable estimate of his 2003 income is $602,933 and that his federal income tax liability on that income is approximately $192,244.
In addition, Pino acknowledged to the court that he purposefully did not file his 2003 return by April 15, 2004 and that he knew that he had an obligation to do so. Despite not filing his return, Pino said that he used an unfiled 2003 return as supporting proof of his income in making applications for automobile and mortgage loans in 2004 and 2005.
Willful Failure to File an Income Tax Return is a Class A misdemeanor offense under federal law, punishable by a maximum term of 12 months in federal prison and a maximum fine of $100,000. Sentencing is set before Judge Anderson on May 14, 2009.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The prosecution is being handled by Frank T. Galati, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-08-0895 PHX-LOA
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-068(Pino)
